Concerns from neighbors near the proposed senior housing complex haven’t gone away, but the Perinton Planning Board looked favorably upon plans for the Creekstone Development at a heated public meeting last week.

The Perinton Town Board has tasked the planning board with reviewing the 166-unit housing proposal from Pride Mark Homes which has faced opposition from residents concerned about additional traffic and density around the site at Mason Road. The planning board had its first formal presentation of the project on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

“Overall, I still think this is a good project,” said board member James Brasley. “It would cause significant impacts to the neighbors, but we can manage those. I’m confident that the impacts can be minimized,” he added. “I think this is going to be an attractive, viable project that’s going to exist for decades to come.”

To allow the complex, Pride Mark, led by developer Jim Barbato, is asking the town to rezone the property as a planned development district. The Town Board has taken lead agency status in the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process that would precede an approval.

The Perinton Conservation Board has reviewed Creekstone’s tentative plans and gave Barbato feedback last week. Member Barbara Wagner asked the developer to consider adding a left-turn lane on Route 31 near the Mason intersection. She also asked Barbato to pay close attention to storm water management and pedestrian traffic around the development. The plan currently includes preservation of the Crescent Trail, which traverses the property in question.

Pride Mark hired an independent traffic consultant who determined that Creekstone’s impact on traffic would not be “significant,” although neighbors like Don Confarotta continue to push for another look.

“I know the studies have been done, and you can say (traffic) isn’t going to be a problem, but it’s going to be a problem,” said Confarotta.

After hearing more comments like this from concerned residents, planning board member Mark Anderson assured them that it’s still early in the game for the approval process for Creekstone. The town board must now wait for favorable SEQR results before the planning board can provide further input. The proposal would then go back to the town board for rezoning and site plan approval.

“This is a very big project and a very complicated project,” said Anderson. “We anticipate it’s going to take a number of meetings and reviews.”